Captain of the Guard, Lindell (Roughly a day before the attack)

The past few days passed rather nicely. While the nights were cold, we had some reprieve during the days. Mostly because it was not quite the dead of winter yet. It was much too cold for Mimi's bugs to be out and about, but her new clothes managed to help her stay a little warmer. We spent our nights talking, and while I was still a little reserved. I found that she was actually pretty clever. Definitely smarter than myself, but also a little childish in some ways.

We flew around the area where the caravan was supposed to be coming in. It was unfortunate that Mimi could only go maybe a day and a half away from her hive, in terms of walking. Found that one out when she suddenly spun midair to head back towards the walls. Which she explained nicely enough. She was still nervous about my magic, so I felt I shouldn't push it. Now and then she would jump a little, if I did it without telling her I was going to. Though even that had all but faded into a memory.

Since today was the last day, we decided to wait around halfway between the walls and Mimi's area. Something was coming, and I felt it in my blood. Every time I sent out magic in one area, it seemed to disappear and never come back. The wind returning with no sounds or nothing. Effectively a null zone, that was moving towards the city. I needed to know if it was a horde, or something else entirely. Thankfully the zone was something like a dome. One that didn't reach the branches above us, but it was still a large area overall.

It was morning when we heard them coming. The ground rattling slightly with tremors. I had smiled at Mimi, calling her a bug brain. A small joke that she pouted at, but laughed when I thought I hurt her. She wasn't my sister, but something like a niece. The ground continued to rattle as we heard the sound of many legs running in our direction. Mimi understood that I had positioned us between whatever was coming, and the city itself. She didn't like the plan, and called me out on it. Something I just waved off, since the two of us should be more than enough for anything that came.

I thought everything would be fine, especially when we saw it was just an abnormally large pack of whispering wolves. Sure I couldn't use magic, but Mimi said that red and purple tips couldn't really hurt her. My armor would protect me from the purple tips a couple of times before it broke. All we needed to do was kill enough and retreat if we got tired. Maybe take care of the problem before it became one for the city.

Now I was here, gritting my teeth surrounded on all sides by the red and purple tips. They didn't have any without color on the tips in this pack. I saw one open it's mouth, and moved to dodge the strike. Feinting a lunge by doing a short jump towards it, before backing off as three more tongues hit the air in front of me. I managed to kill a couple by braining them, but neither my magic or talent were working. I tilted my head to the side as another tongue just barely missed my neck. The others around me moving to try and take me out from afar. They kept their distance from me at all times, making it impossible for retaliation.

I used the sparse seconds I had while they changed their formation, to take a glance at Mimi. Our supplies were strewn across the battlefield, while her wings were shredded. One of her arms were missing, from the elbow down, but she seemed intently focused on the only silver tipped one. I took another step towards her, causing her ears to flick a little. Then I ducked under a few more tongues, never letting these bastards outside my peripheral. A few more tongues came at me, as I rolled forward. My cheek grazed, and arm caught a little. Thankfully it wasn't enough for them to drain blood. I lept towards the whispering wolf that already had it's tongue out, dodging to the side to let another go right past me.

Then I felt it, one of the smaller ones was slightly hidden by a bigger one. It had moved forward and hit my side dead on. It likely destroyed the kidney, and started to drain my blood. I pulled at the tongue, unable to find the strength to pry it free. "Fuck..." I muttered the word, while starting to feel a little colder. It hurt my pride that the others seemed to lose interest in me and focused elsewhere. I used the distraction as a chance to swiftly grab the knife I kept hidden on the side of my thigh. Falling to a knee and gripping the tongue, I cut myself free. I tore what was left of the tongue out of me, wincing from the pain. As the wolf itself let out a hiss before being crushed by Mimi.

"Run Mimi! I'll distract them!" I looked around, to find Mimi right in front of me. She stung my side while lifting me up as a few tongues came through the air. One of them hit her stinger severing it before I could be healed by it. She frowned at this, and spun before throwing me up into the air.

"They will be hard pressed to kill me! Run and warn the others!" She quickly moved out of the way from another set of tongues coming at her. She started to reach for one, but it was quickly pulled back in.

I was tossed high enough that I felt my magic starting to come back. I used it while I could to keep myself afloat and moved even higher. I still had my pipe with me. I could cut some of the branches off to help her from above. I felt my wound, and found it was mostly sealed thanks to what little of the healing stuff made it to me. Then I heard it, the wail of a Banshee. I felt colder, as my ears started to bleed. I quickly used my magic to deafen the rest of the scream around me. As the whispering wolves seemed to try and cover their own ears. Mimi was laying on the ground, not moving.

I wanted to try and save her, but I couldn't. If I landed on the ground then I'd die to the wolves with her. I gritted my teeth, and flew towards the walls as the whispering wolves started to chase after me. Most probably running from the Banshee. I took a look back to see the signs it was an Oldest, before rising higher above the branches. The more that followed me the better, it meant Mimi had less to deal with. Unless the scream itself killed her.

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Mimi

Wyatt is an idiot. Though that probably makes me a bigger one for going along with this. I could see the large field that rejected all types of magic, it was coming towards us. We weren't that far away from the city, but it was still too far to properly reconnect to the hive if I were to be severed from them. Still, I needed to test the links. It would be an unfortunate thing if I were to be disconnected just by walking in one of the areas within the city, without magic. There were a few places I could see, since they stuck out like a sore thumb when compared to all the magic that swirled everywhere else. It was the only reason I didn't just drag him to the tops of the trees and observe.

As the dome came closer, I saw some form of divine energy radiating from it's center. The source of this was a talent, and I only needed to kill whatever held it. I felt it was going to be an easy fight as I finally saw the whispering wolves coming towards us. There were well over a hundred, as it was likely smaller packs joined while they made their way here. It was strange that a few of them had white streaks on their shoulders, but I shrugged it off for now. I saw that they seemed hungry, but otherwise healthy. If anything they were all stronger than the ones I dealt with in the past.

I immediately honed in on the one stopping all magic, including talents. It's own talent like a beacon compared to the rest that were suppressed. They came crashing into us like a wave. Wyatt was pushed back, and cursing once he realized his talent wasn't working. I stung the few that ran past me with my new stingers, and to my surprise it seemed to have no effect. Then the three I managed to sting seemed to stiffen before falling over unable to move. I grinned a little, since it meant I now had a nonlethal way of dealing with people. My combat form moved over me, as the supplies were torn into. I spent the few moments Wyatt wasn't looking, to bury the capsule with my escort.

I raised my stingers slightly to accept this challenge. Keeping my eyes on the silver one, while making myself look larger. I kept my back towards Wyatt, so I could keep track of him and watch him with the eye in the back of my head. To my surprise, the shadow that kept following us wasn't pulled out of their hiding spot. Even when all magic should be gone, which implied it wasn't magic at all. I thought we were being followed by someone sent to watch us, but now it clearly wasn't some person with some kind of obscure magic. Today was going to be a feast, so long as Wyatt could keep himself safe.

To my dismay, the silver leader didn't accept my challenge. Instead lining up reds and purples around me. The tongues of the reds just bounced off me without doing anything at all. The purples were able to scratch me, but that was it. Even if a joint was hit, I was immune to their attacks. I grabbed one of the purples by their tongue, and used the other three arms to just pull it to me. They were still extremely light, and I tore open it's neck with a lower hand. Then I tossed it onto the area where the other three were paralyzed. This seemed to properly anger the others. The silver finally opened it's mouth a bit, but it seemed a bit too far away, based on the range of the others. I started to move towards it, when I felt my instincts kicking in. I moved to the side as best I could, but my arm was severed below the elbow.

I took a second to admire the tongue of the silver one. It seemed that it was much different from the others. Complete with barbs that shot off smaller tongues into the wound. I wanted to grab the tongue, but I felt the smaller one's squirming inside my stump. I grabbed them, before dragging them out. My blood didn't seem to agree with them, as they shriveled and died in my hands. Still it was more than enough time for the silver one to pull its tongue back, and begin preparing to fire again. I grinned beneath my mask, since this was the first proper fight I finally got to enjoy since coming to this kingdom.

Others shot their tongues at me, and I caught two of them. While my poor wings were shredded once more. I huffed a little, since it meant I wasn't able to glide out of here if things got dangerous. I stung one of the tongues with the paralysis stinger, to see if it would work. Which it did about five seconds later, meaning there was a delay and I had no idea how long it could last. The other one struggled, while I was bombarded by more and more tongues. I had to move to keep them from striking my eyes. From the outside it might seem as though I was being overwhelmed.

The truth, was that I only needed to really observe the silver one. Which was using the threat of its own tongue to keep me from swinging it's pack mates around. We were in a sort of stalemate, and I knew exactly how to break it. I started to flex one of my explosive stingers, the only part of me they could potentially sever. I let one of the purples strike through it, before grabbing the severed thing tightly. I used my lower hands to wrap it up in silk to keep any more air from getting into the still flexing thing. Then I tossed it towards the silver one which moved away as nothing happened.

To Wyatt's credit, he was doing rather well for himself without having magic or his talent backing him up. I pretended to misstep, which was when the silver one tried to strike me with it's tongue. The shadow was making its move, and Wyatt was hurt. Thankfully my connection to the hive remained unsevered, even though giving them orders, and receiving information from them was much slower. I could still hear their voices. I dodged the silver's tongue, before making my way to Wyatt. I crushed the skull of the one that had hurt him, just to send a message to the silver one. It was a coward, and it would let it's pack mates be slaughtered before fighting me properly. This seemed to enrage it, as the others struck at me a few times. They ignored Wyatt, because I properly earned their ire. Then as I picked him up, they started to target him, so I spun and threw him away. The shadow emerged to reveal a very well dressed woman with skin as pale as my own.

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Telling Wyatt to run, I heard the worst scream I had ever heard. It attacked my very soul, as I quickly slammed the elastic chitin into my ears to block it out. My eyes bled, as I fell to the ground unsure what was happening. My muscles shaking, as my vision grew darker. I closed my eyes to check on my hive. Their voices were silent, everything was quiet. Even as the woman screamed again, the noise she made masking the explosion next to the silver one. The pack was scared and started to run as quickly as they could. I would be afraid as well if something screamed loudly and explosions went off.

I felt the silence washing over me, as everything grew darker and darker. I was mildly happy that I backed my memories up properly on the hive. That I gave them orders to spread out and protect themselves if I was lost. I couldn't trust Oswald if I passed away. He probably wanted to destroy my hive, despite joining it. I couldn't move my body anymore, but I needed to remain focused. Control over my own mind was slipping as it did in the past. I couldn't breathe, I can no longer move. Everything HURTS!

HIve! HaNds dig into ground! YEs, tubE! Yes, Hive! No... No voices... Hive deaD! Hungry. Alone! No Hive! Hungry! HurT! Sound! FoOtsteps! Looking! You! Killer of hive! Murderer! Rage, rage, RAGE! SmEll! Death! Already dead! Still Moving!? Moving closer! Kill! Kill! Eat! "Fear me not, for I have come to save you. It is most unfortunate that your connections were severed, but I will let you join with me for a moment. To help guide you from this place to safety."

Soft voice! No PiTY! Standing! To Take HEr! GRabbing! Lifting! Old one! Anger! CAnnot fiGht! Eat! Chewing! DEstroy!

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????

Has it failed again? The mortal shell stood still, staring at us. Not dead, but watching us. Ingrained responses to make checking it easier. What attempt was this again? Yes, attempt 54 since the pact had been struck. Chosen by the master of our mother, we needed to prepare it properly.

Checking the soul, we find that it has merged better than past iterations. Signs of reverberation and echoes linger. The souls have not fully merged into one. Still the closest we managed. Copying the memories. Events can be replicated, but the outcome can be changed by the souls rejecting each other. Hints at needed stimuli, and conditions. Ideal soul structure, so long as it is not destroyed. We shall harvest it, and overlay future iterations to increase the possibility of this structure.

Detection of sin. Yes, has moved twice against the 'gods.' Sin erased, far too soon for this iteration to be attacked by false angels. Potential is higher this run over previous attempts. Interference to be kept to a minimal. Moving closer, hands going through the mortal shell. Touching soul directly, plucking sin. Fixing damage made by echoes. Tendrils grabbing recent kill, feeding current iteration. Suppressing talents. Mortal coil has adapted well to gifts from Green Fisher, and Yellow King. Body now slowly attempts to devour without use of talent.

No need to end this world. Only 46 more attempts remain. We do not need to act in desperation yet. Healing complete, binding talent to allow the mortal shell learn faster. Deleting all memories of seeing ourselves during this day cycle. Current status of iteration is berserk. Giving subtle direction to continue attack on viable meal. Accelerating absorption of shadow walk. Process complete.

Pulling back, pointing. Iteration runs off to continue current journey. Fading once more into the space between worlds.

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Richard Adams

I ran as Oswald asked me to, and there was something clearly wrong with Mimi. On the way down, I told the guards to get whatever they had that could restrain a Fiend. They thought it was overkill at first, but I told them it was better to be safe than sorry. When we finally made it to the ground outside the walls. I we all saw the ground littered with the horde of whispering wolves. About ten of them were nothing but gore after Mimi ate what she wanted from them.

The recruit next to me spoke up, "She appears to be emitting a sort of signal, in an attempt to locate a hive or connect with anyone. How long do you think she'll be out?"

"No idea, which is why Oswald wanted us to restrain her. I haven't seen her act this way, and it's probably because something happened out there. She probably thinks her hive is in danger or something, so we need to make sure she's restrained. She probably won't attack me, since I'm a part of it, but I don't want to test that too much."

The other recruit swallowed hard, "You said she's as strong as a fiend? How is that possible?"

"I don't know, but I saw her kill one by herself with her bare hands. Then she just ate it, like she did with the whispering wolves. Her talent allows her to grow stronger by eating things. She's probably going through changes right now, and that means this is the best time to restrain her." I looked at the burly man who seemed a bit afraid. "She's pretty heavy, so I'll need your help lifting her."

He nodded, as the gates opened and a couple wagons started coming out with more recruits. One extra large wagon for carrying the dead bodies. I waved one of them down, looking at the skeletal beasts pulling the wagons themselves. The cloaked figure came towards, and stopped as other recruits got to work putting the bodies on the wagons. After a quick exchange, we were binding Mimi with some ropes and enchanted chains. It was strange to see some parts of her shifting just under the skin. Though it also meant she was alive and well. After we finished restraining her, it took about ten of us to load her onto the wagon properly.

We turned back and headed towards Oswald's estate, a couple of guys from the carpenter guild hopping on to fix the hole in Oswald's wall. Thankfully Mimi stayed fast asleep, but her ears seemed to grow about twice as long in an elegant sort of way. The tip becoming straight ebony like the rest of her armor. Even as she slept, she seemed to wince. It probably hurt her to go through these changes. The ride to Oswald's was a quiet one, since none of us were looking forward to carrying her up the stairs to her room. It would have been nice to take her to the home Oswald had built for her, but since her hive wasn't there it was pointless.

The carpenters went ahead of us to seal the hole and make a new window. We followed after them, only to hear the sounds of marching coming from inside the room itself. The Carpenters were waiting just outside of it, and informed us that the task was done, but they didn't like the sounds coming from the hive. I entered the room, and the marching died down a little as the bugs seemed to recognize me still. Then it stopped as we managed to get Mimi inside. The swarm started to fly out of the hole, and surrounded Mimi as the others just left the room not wanting any part of that. I walked outside with them, letting out a deep sigh. "Thank you for your hard work. I should have it from here, but I know some other people are probably about to come here and ask questions. The repairs and everything will be paid for after sir Oswald returns."

This seemed to make them happy enough to just go away, save for a few questions that I told them to ask Wyatt, or their other guards about. The carpenters were professional to the end, and even made the window the way it was. I wasn't sure how they managed to get a window, but I had other things on my mind. Turning back to Mimi, with the door open. I saw just about every inch of her covered with bugs. They were trying to free her from the bindings, but were not able to do much of anything there. I frowned, seeing her like this. Though it was better for her to be restrained.

I sat outside the door, just letting it fully set in. Oswald's title that he never brought up had been earned for a reason. With a little bit of preparation he was able to take Mimi out, and probably could have killed her even easier than putting her to sleep. Then there was the wagon that had exploded near the wall, probably dropped down from above. I didn't have time to think much on it, but something probably happened on top of the walls.

Someone would probably be coming over to check on Mimi. To probably ask questions and such. Though there was a chance that wouldn't happen until Wyatt got better. They needed his input after all. I just had to sit here, and be useful if someone came asking questions. I needed to really learn how to control my cells, so I could be more like Oswald. I just felt so useless right now, no better than a recruit when it actually mattered. Perhaps even worse, because some of them could really use magic.

I slapped my cheeks to get those thoughts away, before looking back at Mimi. None of her hive seemed to be attacking her or even trying to sting her. They were intent on freeing her, but were clearly frustrated. The sad fact, was that I couldn't release her even if I wanted to. The key was taken by one of the recruits to be given to someone higher up the ladder. It was starting to get late, with the sun starting to set past the walls themselves. I took a deep breath, and just waited.

No one came in the end, at least in the few hours it took before Mimi woke up. I watched as her bugs seemed to stop what they were doing before looking at her. She smiled at them, before flexing herself. Clearly testing the bindings, and the chains seemed to creak with their runes glowing, before she stopped. She kind of looked like a bundled up mummy with all the cloth, ropes and chains around. Practical application for anything that is extremely strong, with the cloth being there for comfort.

I smiled at her, "Hey, long time no see. How was it out there?"

She struggled a little before sitting up and smiling back at me. "Went okay until the end. I learned how to talk better and such. Ate a few things, made friends with some spiders. I lost my connection with them, as well as my swarm. Though everyone here seems fine, I really need to go out and reconnect with the others." She put her back to the wall, waving her antenna about. Her ears flicking now and then.

"You aren't connected with the ones that went outside?" I was genuinely surprised by this news. I thought it was the kind of thing where she just connected to all of them at once.

She nodded, "Yep, I'm trying to connect to them right now. There is an issue with distance, but I can sense the general location of where they are. Why am I bound and tied up like this?"

I opened my mouth, before closing it. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"There was a scream, my connections were severed. Then I was angry. I lost control of myself, but I doubt I hurt anyone." She wiggled in her extra snug sleeping bag.

I smiled back at her, "Yeah, but you came out of the shadows like one of the Banshee. Don't scream, since they probably want to make sure you aren't super dangerous now."

She tilted her head, "Why is everyone afraid of the scream? I mean it hurts, but I won't do that because it would kill my hive. Not sure if I can or not. I couldn't exactly feel myself changing while asleep."

"Just don't try it, and don't worry about it. I have great news for you though, Oswald had a house built for you. He did it while you were gone, and he would like it if you got the hive out of the floorboards. He's not mad, because you did kill termites. Though he really doesn't like the idea of having his place become your nesting grounds of sorts." I kept my voice gentle, trying to show she wasn't in trouble. Though I truly hoped she understood she did something she shouldn't have.

She blinked at me, then lowered her ears and looked down. "Sorry, I was told I could use this room. Then we found the termites and figured we could just take over where we found them. I'll move the hive out, as well as finding the others and moving them as well." She seemed to sulk a little.

I smiled at the fact she took it way better than I thought she would. She was still a monster after all, but it didn't seem she actually got angry at anything. Well, unless she got disconnected from her hive. Though that's more of a frenzy, rather than actual anger. I let out a small sigh of relief, then gave her a winning grin. "Welcome home Mimi."

She smiled back at me, "It's pleasant to be home. I'm pretty hungry right now. Do you mind giving me something to eat?"

I nodded, "Yeah, sure thing. Just don't try to leave, or break your bindings. Though they are supposed to be able to hold a fiend. Some guys might try to come by later to ask you questions. Just tell them the truth, but also ask them to wait for me to get back. Oswald will probably come back later tonight. Are you thirsty?"

"Thank you Richard." She smiled back warmly, "I'll be fine until you get back. I promise not to do anything I shouldn't while I wait."

I nodded, and left to get some cooking done. Perhaps the best thing about all the training was that I could practically cover anything in fire, and keep it from being charred. Which made cooking so much faster. Every bit of practice helps.